PICTURE THEATRES

Evening Star, Issue 25676, 27 December 1945, Page 7

PICTURE THEATRES

GRAND. Tho well-known comedians, Laurel and Hardy, liave scored another triumph in ‘The B'g Noise’, which began a season at .the Grand, yesterday. These popular, fun makers have made numerous full-lerfgth and short films, but in ‘The pig Noise,’ their latest effort, they riot oril.y surpass-; the comedy of any ..of their, other films, hut also have a more interesting story to tell.* Their typical ability for creating the most ■awkward and .absurd situations is given ;ample scope, arid'is. as always, dehghtr ■fully-humorous. There-is. an excellent supporting programme, .which, during the .matinees, includes five -cartoons. MAYFAIR. ‘ Alfred' Hitchcock's production of .‘ Lifeboat,’ a stirring dramatisation of ‘the novel-by John Steinbeck, heads the new prograhune screened at the May,fair yesterday. Lifeboat ’ has b e ®n widely, acclaimed, as . one of the .best dramas of recent years, and owes its' Success not only, to the brilliant production, of Hitelicbck, but also to its en-‘grossiiig-story, magnificently portrayed by an; imposing, east,. including Tallulah Bankhead, Williaiji Bepdix, Mary Anderson, John: Hodiak,. and Herirv Hull. Johnny „Cpme...Lately,’• the associate feature, stars James Cagney, who is ably, supported by Grace George and Marjorie Lord. EMPIRE. The, joy and the, heartbreak, the glamour and sordidness of life backstage in the early, dpys of the American theatre form the background for * Shine On, Harvest'Moon,’ the new musical,, based .on ; the life of _ Nora Bayes, which opens at the Empire tomorrow,. . Starring Ann Sheridan as Nora Bayes and Dennis Morgan as Jack Norworth, the popular song -writer, who, hebame .the singer’s husband and professional partner, the film is a mixture of gay music and fast-paced story, depicting the well-loved singer’s rise tp the glory of a Ziegfeld stage. A cast consistently excellent includes Irene Manning, beautiful singer of i'The Desert.firing,’ Jack Carson, S. Z. Sakai 1, Marie Wilson, : and Robert Shayne. . A rare mixture of nostalgic story and song against a background of the early, 1900’s, including gaslight and old-time tunes —‘Shine Oil, Harvest Moon,’ ‘ When It’s Apple Blossom Time in Normandy,’ and ‘ Take Me Out to the Ball Game,’ ‘Shine'On, Harvest Moon,’ tells the tribulations which befell the young lovers before they filially “ arrived.” OCTAGON. ‘ Tlnmderhead—Son of Flicka,’ which has enjoyed a successful season at the Octagon, will begin its second week tohiorrow. Its popularity may be ascribed to the excellence of the all-round entertainment which it provides, for it ably blends drama, comedy, romance, ana sentiment. The story telle of the love of a young boy for horses and how. he surmounts his many problems. It is an appealing tale, and is well portrayed by, Roddy MeDowall, Preston Foster, and Rita Johnson in the principal roles. There is an excellent supporting programme. ST. JAMES. • Warner Brother’s bright comedy, ‘ George Washington Slept Here,’ will be screened at the St. James to-mor-row. Jack Benny ; who has been described as America’s No. 1 radio comedian, leads the talented cast in which Ann Sheridan and Charles Coburn play featured roles. The amusing story tells of the'efforts of Benny and Sheridan, a typical city-bred couple, to rehabilitate a house. The ensuing situations are humorous in the extreme and provide delightful entertainment. The supporting programme includes ‘ Little Isles of Freedom,’ written by Dorothy Thompson and nar- . rated by "Charles Boyer, and a sports parade. REGENT. Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon match their previous successes in ‘ Mrs Miniver ’ and ‘ Madame Curie ’ in their new Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer hit, ‘ Mrs Parkington,’ which opens at the Regent to-morrow. This popular team brings to stirring life the Susie and Major Parkington of the best-seller novel on which the picture is based. Susie is a small-town girl swept off her feet by the dashing, unscruplous Augustus, self-styled Major Parkington, who, as the years pass, becomes herself a social and financial power and the head of a great family. The major, flamboyant and susceptible, revolts every now and then, but their love for each other surmounts all these difficulties. ‘ Mrs Parkington,’ a 6 directed by Tay Garnett and produced by Leon Gordon, is one of the season’s most handsome productions. Superbly mounted in the true M.-G.-M. manner, it provides a grand cast in grand roles. Edward Arnold, that great character actor; Agnes Moorehead, remembered for her work in ‘ Dragon Seed Frances (Rafferty and Toiri Drake, Wo youngsters who are increasing in Hollywood stature: Dan Duryea, Hugh Marlowe, Selena Royle, Gladys Cooper, Lee Patrick—all these come through with superb portrayals as members of the Parkington family. The supporting programme includes the colour . cartoon, ‘ Mouse Trouble,’ and the latest air mail news review. STATE. ‘ English Without Tears,’ a sparkling comedy romance, which has enjoyed a successful season at tho State, will begin its second week to-morrow. A satire on British ways and foreign eccentricities, the story tells of a society girl who falls in love with the butler; but unexpected developments occur when he becomes an officer and the house is over-run with foreigners. The uproarious situations which ensue make the picture one of the outstanding comedies of the year. A powerful cast of players is headed by Michael Wilding as Gilbey, her ladyship’s fascinating butler, and Penelope Ward, her ladyship’s niece, who trifled with the affections of the family. Prominent roles are also filled bv Roland Culver and Lilli Palmer. The supports include ‘ Sons of the Air,’ a tribute to the Air Training Corps. STRAND.

Described as the most outstanding of the series, ‘ The Crime Doctor’s Courage,’ which will begin, a season at the Strand to-morrow, has all the ingredients of a good mystery thriller. During a dinner party the host is murdered under conditions which apparently constitute a perfect crime, but the Crime Doctor (Warner Baxter), after investigating numerous clues and counter-clues, eventually identifies the murderer without any of the suspense being lost. Roy Rogers is starred in the associate feature, ‘ Song of Nevada,’ which has a western background. The picture moves swiftly, is modern in tempo, and the' action is never sacrificed for the musical numbers which are fitted convincingly into the plot itself.